Fast estimation of speech transmission index using the reverberation time

Abstract The paper presents the function of STI in the domain of reverberation time. Through the application of the said function, we can quickly estimate the speech transmission index, knowing only the time of room reverberation. For that purpose we applied a known method which consists in physical estimation of speech intelligibility basing on the modulation transfer function (MTF) determined in a room. Then, the STI was described using a logarithmic function whereof argument was the room reverberation time. To verify the model, reverberation times of six rooms were measured. The selected rooms were very different deliberately. They had different cubature and shape. The selection included a small cuboid, lecture halls and a church. Then, the same rooms were modeled in the ODEON version 11.23 and their reverberation times were determined. Furthermore, the STI was determined in the ODEON and then compared with the reverberation time obtained in effect of fast estimation. The statistical verification with the use of correlation index and regression equation has demonstrated that the fast estimation yields results close to those obtained in the computer simulation in ODEON. We obtained the correlation index at the level close to 1. Furthermore, the test probability at the level lower than 0.05 bespeaks of a statistically significant linear relation for the confidence level of 95%.